Making the Seacoast Cleaner, Healthier, Better

Local community members and students from Seacoast School of Technology and Phillips Exeter Academy gathered on April 8th for Squamscott Community Common's first Little River Clean-Up. The day opened with an informal presentation by Pete Richardson, of the Exeter River Local Advisory Committee and Conservation Commission, introducing students to the unique ecosystem of the Exeter River Watershed and its interrelationship with the Little River. The Exeter River connects the Little River to the Great Bay, the Piscataqua River and, eventually, the Gulf of Maine. "They are all interconnected to the Little River in Exeter," he said. "All this stuff gets transported down the river . . . today we'll discover how human behavior impacts our water bodies." Volunteers teamed up to remove trash and minor brush from the banks from the banks of the river and the walking trails. Students from Seacoast School of Technology's digital communications class documented the project and intend to produce a documentary to raise awareness. Romeo's Pizza and Squamscott Beverages generously donated pizza and soda for a post-clean-up lunch. "This was a great project," said Kate Donald, Sustainability Coordinator at The Commons. "All the students were interested in learning about the Little River. They worked hard, and it's made a big difference already. We will definitely plan to host more clean-ups in the future."